The SAT is an entrance examination created by the College Board and used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The idea is to provide colleges with one common criterion that can be used to compare all applicants. However, it is just one factor in the admissions decision. Schools also consider your high school GPA, academic transcript, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, interviews, and personal essays. The weight placed on SAT scores varies from school to school.

The new SAT includes a combined Reading and Writing section, formally called the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section, a Math section, and an optional 50-minute Essay. The Reading/Writing and Math sections are scored from 200-800, for a total composite score of 400-1600. The optional essay is given a score of 2-8; this score will not be reported along with your composite score, meaning your essay score does not affect your composite score. If you forgo the essay writing section of the new SAT, the test will only be three hours long. Students who score high in SAT test are awarded scholarship abroad.
SAT 2 is the subject test. It is required by some specific schools, subjects includes major secondary school subjects. If a student is looking to get admission to a particular course, he or she can take the SAT subject tests to show his knowledge and understanding of that particular subject. Subject tests are offered in areas like Literature, History, Mathematics, Sciences and Foreign Languages.

The SAT exam is offered nationally every year in October, November, December, January, March, May and June.

There are few authorized SAT test centres currently administering the test in Nigeria. You can choose any of these centres nearest to you: Lagos, FCT Abuja, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Asaba, Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Benin, Kwara, Ibadan and Osun.

The SAT is an exam administered by The College Board to test college and career readiness. It is primarily used for the purpose of gaining admission to college. The SAT is widely considered to be the single most important test you take in high school.

Who creates the SAT?

The SAT is created by Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS is paid by the College Board to create the exam. Both of these companies are private.

Why did the SAT change in 2016?

According to The College Board, the SAT was revised to better focus on testing the skills and knowledge that matter most for college and career success.

What question types appear in the new Math section?

The revision in 2016 has led to the addition of a no-calculator math section, which is worth a third of your math score. The sections of the math test that do allow a calculator also feature questions that do not require a calculator to solve, where use of a calculator could serve to actually slow down the problem solving process. These question types assess how well students make use of appropriate tools.

Four types of questions appear in the SAT math section: algebra, problem solving and data analysis, advanced math, and additional topics. Each of these broader question types may be broken down into more specific math topics.

Algebra questions require students to solve equations and systems of equations, to create expressions, equations, and inequalities to solve problems, and to rearrange and interpret formulas.

Problem Solving and Data Analysis questions require students to create and analyze relationships using ratios, proportions, percentages, and units, to describe relationships shown graphically, and to summarize qualitative and quantitative data.

Advanced Math questions require students to rewrite expressions, to create, analyze, and solve quadratic and higher-order equations, and to manipulate polynomials to solve problems.

Additional Topics questions require students to calculate area and volume, to investigate lines, angles, triangles, and circles using theorems, and to work with trigonometric functions.

More generally, the math section of the SAT thoroughly tests your foundational knowledge of math topics in the context of real world situations, involving science, social science, or career related topics, focusing specifically on the math needed to pursue careers in the STEM fields.

The new math sections will have:

A no-calculator section

Two out of the four total multiple choice sections on the SAT (2016) will be math

This is a question with no easy answer. It depends on your strengths and weaknesses. The math section of the test is more advanced and counts more heavily toward your overall composite score, and calculators are only available for certain math sections. This will benefit students who are talented in math or who have taken more advanced math classes. Likewise, the evidence based reading and writing section of the test favors students with strong reading comprehension skills and an in-depth knowledge of English grammar. From College Board’s perspective, the SAT (2016) is more closely aligned with the demands of college and readiness for a career. Students who have done well in all school subjects should benefit from the test changes.

When should I register for the SAT?

We suggest that you sign up for the SAT when you are comfortable with the test and have completed all assignments related to your course. In other words, don’t plan to take the SAT directly after the course is over, in the event that you need more time to practice. However, we do NOT suggest waiting more than 60 days after the course to take the SAT. The deadline to actually register for an SAT exam is usually four to five weeks before the test date. The SAT is offered seven times a year in the following months: January, March, May, June, October, November, and December. Students should carefully consider factors like the availability of the test date, the length of time it will take to fully prepare for the exam, and the deadlines of the colleges they will apply to when constructing their overall college admission timeline.

Schedule the exam:

After the course has completed (but not immediately after to allow for extra study time)

Before 60 days from the end of the course (so information is still fresh)

Registration deadline is usually 4-5 weeks prior to the test. In Nigeria, SAT registration deadline is between eight (8) – ten (10) weeks before the examination date you choose.

The SAT Reasoning Test (with essay) costs #45,000. Late fee is #10,000 if you register after the registration deadline.

How long does it take to get my scores back?

The scores are usually mailed out 4-6 weeks after you take the test. You may also look up your scores online through the College Board website two weeks after your exam at www.collegeboard.org.

What if I take the SAT and mess up?

On the day of your test if you want to cancel your score during or after finishing your exam, you should ask the test supervisor for a “Request to Cancel Test Scores” form. You can submit the completed form immediately at the testing center. You can also think about it for a day or two before mailing it to College Board. However, College Board must receive your request form no later than 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) the Wednesday after the test. You must include the test date, test center number, name of the test you are cancelling, your name, address, sex, birth date, registration number, and your signature. You must label your request “Attention: SAT Score Cancellation” and send it via one of the following methods:

Fax: 610-290-8978

Overnight delivery via U.S. Postal Service Express Mail (U.S. only):

SAT Score Cancellation
P.O. Box 6228
Princeton, NJ 08541-6228

Other overnight mail service or courier (U.S. or international):

SAT Score Cancellation
225 Phillips Boulevard
Ewing, NJ 08618
USA

What is Score Choice?

Score choice allows you to choose which SAT and SAT Subject Test scores you would like to send to colleges, at no additional cost. Different universities and colleges now have different score choice practices. Some schools require only the single highest test date score, some schools state that they combine the highest scores from different sections across test dates, and some schools require you to send all of your scores. Always check with the schools you plan to apply to as well before sending your scores.

How many times can I take the SAT?

If the colleges you are planning to apply to only require you to send your highest test scores, you can now take the SAT and SAT Subject Tests as many times as you want. Colleges will only see the scores you want to send them! If the colleges you are planning to apply to require you to send all of your test scores, we recommend you take the SAT a maximum of three times.

When should I start preparing for the SAT?

Because the SAT is the most important test for college admissions, it is always best to start preparing as early as possible. This allows more preparation time to achieve score goals. For students who have the goal of becoming a National Merit Semi-finalist, it is best to start by June before 10th grade. Otherwise, a student should start by the summer before their 11th grade to maximize the effectiveness of our program because there are no distractions such as school homework, projects, exams or any other school activities. Students should start preparing for the SAT no later then the summer before their 12th grade.

How much high school math do I need before I can start preparing for the SAT?

Once you have completed high school algebra and geometry, you are ready to take the SAT. Although the SAT does include Algebra II, it is only a small fraction of the math section, about 10%.

How do extracurricular activities, majors, recommendations, essays, and factors come into play in college admissions?

College admissions in the United States are not standardized in any way, which means that each undergraduate college develops its own system. Some of the most important factors in college admissions are high school grades, difficulty of a student’s high school course selection, and scores on the SAT. The reputation of the high school is also important. Extracurricular activities such as membership to clubs, service activities, and athletic or musical talents are important during the admissions process and it is very damaging to a student’s application for him or her to have no extracurricular involvement. The typical breakdown of college admissions weights are: 50% class rank, 25% SAT, and 25% extracurricular activities and recommendations. Private schools tend to rely more on extracurricular activities for admissions than public schools.

How do I find out about scholarships?

To find out more about scholarships, their availability and requirements, visit our office.